For the second game in a row, came off the bench during the first half as we drew 1-1 with Man United, going ahead late on through 's penalty before Casemiro headed in an injury-time equaliser for the visitors.

However, on this occasion the Croatian's introduction was due to a tactical shift from , rather than an injury to a team-mate, with Potter saying he was pleased with the team's reaction to that change, even if he can't have too much complaint at the final score.

'The first 20 minutes I think Manchester United were better and forced us back,' said our head coach. 'We had to adjust a little bit there, try to get another player into the midfield and put a little bit more pressure on them. They were building their attacks too easily and driving us back.

'The sense of the game was that we were getting overrun a little bit in the midfield, we needed an extra player in there to create a bit more pressure, to stop them building their attacks and therefore making it harder to build ours. So it was just a feeling that I had. It’s not an easy decision to make at all but the boys responded really well and they gave everything.

'So we just had to adjust that and from that point I thought we did well in the game. We’re disappointed of course to concede late but over the course of the game I think a point’s about right for us. I don’t think we can particularly sit here and say we deserved to win.

'We didn’t do enough to win the game I don’t think but effort-wise what the boys put in was amazing, it was fantastic from our players and I’m very proud of them for that.'

Potter revealed the reason Kovacic hasn't started recently is because of an injury problem...

'He’s been nursing a knee for all of the season, pretty much. And then you look at the schedule and it’s suddenly games Wednesday and Saturday, it’s impossible for him to start all the games.

'We’d planned for him to have less time than he has, but things have conspired so he’s been on the pitch. We know his quality, but at the same time you also need to understand the player’s situation as well.

'We have to manage the players, we have to deal with what we have. Everyone is challenged at this point as at this part of the season the schedule’s relentless. So it’s always the balance between sharing the load of the players, because they’re not robots, and dealing with the schedule.

'But the boys are in a good place. They’re fighting for each other so that’s a good starting point.'

Our manager identified creating chances as an area we need to improve moving forward...

'We were sort of nearly there but lacked the last bit. That is an area as a team where we can do better, in terms of our attacking play.

'But it was an intense, hard fought match against a team in a good moment. Everyone’s had the schedule that they’ve had so it’s not straight forward, but it’s something we can improve.

'But the spirit, togetherness, effort, personality of the players, was all amazing.'